A novel thermal detection scheme has been developed and combined with the techniques of rapid scan Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to make sensitive, high resolution measurements of the vibrational spectrum of carbon monoxide molecules on evaporated nickel films. Adsorbed molecules are detected by attaching a germanium resistance thermometer to the sample, cooling the assembly to liquid helium temperatures, and measuring the temperature changes which occur when infrared radiation is absorbed. Spectra are presented for a range of CO coverages on an evaporated nickel film and a film damaged by ion bombardment. The positions, shapes, and intensities of the spectral lines from linear and bridge bonded CO molecules give information about the surface structure of the metal films and about the different ordered phases of the adsorbed molecules.